APES 7.7- Acid Rain WYRNTK
The concentration of H+ ions in a solution with a pH value of 4 is how many times as great as the concentration of H+ ions in a solution with a pH value of 7?
1,000
Acid rain with a pH of 4.6 is more acidic than normal rainfall by a factor of?
10
If the emissions that contribute to acid rain were completely eliminated, acid rain would stop falling in approximately?
2-3 weeks
At what range in pH will the ecology of a lake environment begin to be significantly impacted?
5.0-6.0
The pH of normal or average rainfall is about:
5.6
Acid precipitation, leaching out the metal ___, causes fish and other aquatic organisms to die from acid shock.
Al
Which pair of compounds reacts with H2O to produce acid rain?
SO2 and NOx
Acid rain may leach nutrients from the soil. This could lead to:
a decrease in plant growth
Which of the following would be the most likely effect of acid deposition on a northern forest? a. decreased ability of trees to withstand cold weather b. decreased concentration of H+ ions in the soil c. decreased levels of light on the forest floor d. increased buffering capacity of the soil e. increased rates of photosynthesis in evergreen needles
a. decreased ability of trees to withstand cold weather
Recent studies show that the decline of some tree populations in the northeastern United States is due to a combination of factors. Which of the following is the most important factor? a. toxic metals freed by acid deposition b. carbon dioxide produced by coal-fueled electric power plants c. carbon monoxide released in motor vehicle exhaust d. lead emissions produced by smelters e. radon produced in the Earth's crust
a. toxic metals freed by acid deposition
The eggs and small fry of some aquatic organisms are damaged when a rapidly melting snowpack contains acidic particles, resulting in acid concentrations of 5 to 10 times higher than acidic rainfall. This condition is known as:
acid shock
Acid rain is associated with what?
adding lime to acidified lakes
High levels in surface water of which compound increases the risk of acid shock to aquatic life?
aluminum
In 1950, the pH of the pond water was 8.2, but by 2000 the pH had decreased to 5.2. Which of the following changes would also be expected in the pond over the same time period? I. Increased levels of dissolved oxygen II. Increased levels of heavy metals III. Increased number of fish species a. I only b. II only c. III only d. II and III e. I, II, and III
b. II only
Which of the following actions would be the most effective in decreasing acid rain and acid deposition problems? a. using higher smokestacks b. reducing use of fossil fuels c. developing acid-resistant crops d. adding lime to acidified lakes e. relocating power plants to areas of lower population density
b. reducing use of fossil fuels
The primary cause of acid precipitation in the northeastern United States is?
burning of sulfur-containing fossil fuels to produce electricity
(2010) Approximately how many more times acidic, in terms of H+ concentration, is precipitation in the northeastern United States as compared to precipitation in the South Pacific? a. 0.1 b. 2 c. 10 d. 20 e. 100
c. 10
Is primarily responsible for acid rain in the northeast United States.
coal
In 1950, the pH of the pond water was 8.2, but by 2000 the pH had decreased to 5.2. An effective short-term remediation strategy for the pond would be to: a. build taller smokestacks downwind from the pond b. prevent fertilizer runoff from entering the pond c. periodically stock the pond with brown trout d. add calcium carbonate to the pond water e. use tertiary wastewater-treatment protocols
d. add calcium carbonate to the pond water
What effect can acid rain have on an aquatic ecosystem?
decline in plant growth
When acid rain falls on limestone statues, monuments, and gravestones, discoloring and disfiguring surfaces, the process is known as:
dissolution
Where is acid precipitation most commonly found?
downwind of industrial emissions
Acid rain has been measured in: a. the United States b. the Netherlands c. Australia d. Japan e. all of the above
e. all of the above
Which of the following would be the strongest evidence in support of a scientist's contention that a local area was experiencing acid deposition? a. a sudden die-off of all the fish in a local stream b. a gradual increase in the temperature of a local lake c. an increase in the rate of photosynthesis of aquatic plants in a local lake d. a long-term increase in the pH of a local pond e. an increase in the concentrations of soluble heavy metals in a local pond
e. an increase in the concentrations of soluble heavy metals in a local pond
Acid rain and snow harm some areas more than other areas because certain areas:
have less of an ability to neutralize the acids
Buildings or statues made of which materials are particularly susceptible to acid rain?
marble
Acid deposition most severely affects amphibian species because amphibians:
need to live in both terrestrial and aquatic habitats
Acid deposition on soil kills beneficial decomposers; which cycle would be most affected by the loss of decomposers?
nitrogen cycling
The arrow represents the approximate pH of what? (5.6 pH)
normal rainfall
Precipitation is considered acidic (e.g., rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog) if it has a pH less than:
pH 5.6
Doing what could most effectively reduce acid rain and acid deposition?
reducing the use and waste of electricity
The pH of precipitation in the United States is highest in the:
southwest and lowest in the northeast
Acid precipitation leads to an increase in which two elements in the soil?
sulfur and nitrogen
What is a major component in acid rain?
sulfuric acid
Acid deposition would most likely result in what?
the release of aluminum ions from soil
What is most likely to lead to acid rain?
the release of sulfur dioxide from a coal-fired power plant